Support



Patented Mar. 25, 1941 PATENT OFFICE sUPPoa'r `Anthony Vanderveld, Grand Rapids, Mich., as- [signor to Grand Rapids Store Equipment Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of `Michigan f i 7 Application June z4,194o, sei-mlm. 341,985

4 Claims.

This inventionirelates` to a supporting structure which is primarily adaptedifor use in store furniture constructions of the type disclosed in the application of Paul` G. Williams and Kenneth C. Welch, Serial No. 288,722,Ifiled August '7, 1939, which was allowed June 6, 1940.

It is a primary object and purposeof the present invention` to provide a` metalsupporting member embedded within a main vertical support preferably of wood such as an end of a display case or cabinet or a post,` such metal member located wholly within the body 'of the cabinet end or the like with which it is Combined and associatedyand being` provided with a plurality j of spaced apart supporting portions separated vertically by slots in which slots devices suchlas shelf supports, door `fixture carrying supports and the like may be inserted and held, providing an attractive, strong and durable construction.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the Which, I I

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through the combined wood and metal supporting structure of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the support.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the wood member of the support is slotted to receive the metallic I member.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the metallic member which is received in two of the three slots shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one form of connection which may be applied to the support.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

In the construction shown, the member of wood or equivalent material may be a vertical end of a display case or cabinet or similar structure which may be used in the furnishlng of stores though not necessarily restricted thereto. Such member I as indicated in Fig. 4, may consist of a vertical post several of which may be used, one at each corner of an open rack structure, the invention being adapted thereto as well as to the ends of display cases or cabinets. In the member I at a selected side thereof, a longitudinal vertical slot 2 is cut extending inwardly preferably at right angles to the face of said member I at which the slot is made. In addition two other slots 3 are cut which diverge from accompanying drawing, `in `Fig 3,

each other into the body of the member I, all of the slots 2 and 3 joining at the face of the member I in a single groove 4., as shown.

A member of sheet metal, best shown in Fig. 5, is provided consisting of a length of sheet metal 5 bent longitudinally between its edges to make two diverging wings 5 which are adapted to be received in the slots 3. At the corner or bend of the sheet metal member a plurality of spaced apart supporting ledges B are provided between 10 vertical slots` 'I which are cut through the metal in vertical spaced relation to each other one over the other as shown in Fig. 5. The sheet .metal is of relatively narrow gauge and the sheet metal member as thus constructed is inserted lengthwise at one end into the slots 3 extending .the full height of the end of the case or cabinet or of` the post or other support of wood thus associated. It is evident that the openings or -slots 'I will be indirect conjunction or alinement with the .slot 2 in the member l as shown in Such construction as described is adapted to receive supporting brackets, for example one of which is shown in Fig. 6. The bracket shown is made of one piece of flat metal having a vertical section 8 at the inner upper corner of which a finger 9 extends upwardly. A section IU is turned at right angles from the front of the section a and at the 1ower end of said section m a horizontal ledge II is turned at right angles as shown. Such bracket member is adapted to have its vertical section 8 inserted through a slot 'I into the slot 2 of the member I with the finger 9 coming back of a part 6 of the metallic member of the structure directly over the selected' slot; while the lower edge of section 8 bears against the upper edge of the next lower part 6 (Fig. 1). The laterally turned section IO will thereupon bear against the face of the member I as is evident from the illustration shown in Fig. 2. It is of course to be understood that many varieties of detachable supporting accessories other than the specific bracket illustrated in Fig. 6 are adapted to be used with a support of my invention. All however, have one thing in common, namely, a vertical flat metal section like section 8 and a nger 9 to hook behind the part 6 directly above the slot 'I in the metal member through which such vertical section 8 is inserted, the height of said section 8 being but little less than the length of the slot through which inserted. The outer structure associated or connected with the section 8 may be varied as it is in the pending application of Williams and Welch previously mentioned.

With this construction the opening or vertical groove 4 is of narrow width, the slots 2 and 3 are narrow, very little of the metal shows at all and then only by looking at it at substantially right angles to the face of the member i in Which the metal member is embedded. The sides of the slot 2 support the vertical section 8 of the accessory used and hold it against lateral movement while the vertical depth of the section 8 insures a strong and rigid support amply able to withstand and hold a considerable Weight without buckling or distortion.

The construction is very practical, useful and efficient. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

b1. In a construction of the class described, a vertical member having a flat side, a vertical slot extending from said side into the member, said slot being positioned at substantially right angles to said face, two additional vertical slots in said member in conjunction With the first slot at their outer edges, said two additional .slots diverging from each other and from the first slot, and a sheet metal member having two Wings integrally connected by a bend at the juncture of said wings inserted into and filling said two additional slots, said sheet metal member having a plurality of spaced apart vertical slotted openings therethrough in direct alinement with the first mentioned slot.

2. A structure of the class described comprising, a vertical member of wood or like material having a flat face, a vertical slot extending lengthwise thereof extending into said member from said flat face, two additional slots extending inwardly from said flat face of the member, said additional slots extending in opposite directions from the first slot, and a sheet metal member having two wings located at the same relative position to each other as said additional slots are to each other inserted therein, said sheet metal member having vertically spaced supporting means carried by the outer edge portions of said wings at the front of said first slot, and openings between said supporting means in direct alinement with said first slot.

3. A construction of the class described comprising, a vertical supporting member of wood or the like having a vertical flat face, a vertical slot cut into said member from said fiat face substantially at right angles thereto and a sheet metal member having oppositely extending flanges embedded in said supporting member, said fianges extending oppositely with respect to each other and located at opposite sides of said slot, and said fianges being integrally connected by a longitudinal bend portion between the flanges, said bend portion of the sheet metal member having a plurality of spaced vertical slots cut therethrough in alinement with the slot in said supporting member.

4. A support comprising, a vertical member of wood or like material having a vertical flat face, a slot extending thereinto from said face of the member and substantially at right angles to said face, two additional vertical slots located one at each side of the first slot diverging from each other and joining at their outer portion with the' outer portions of said first slot, and a member of sheet metal made from a single length of material bent longitudinally between its edges to provide two diverging wings and at the bend therein being provided with spaced apart ver-" tical slot openings cut therethrough with inwardly connecting portions of the metal at the bend connecting said Wings, said sheet metal member being located With its wings in said additional slots and With the spaced slots therein/ in direct conjunction with the first mentioned slot.

ANTHONY VANDERVELD. 

